Breakfast in English in class (B1B) Febrary, 17th March at 10,20
We are going to have breakfast in English. This is an activity which consist
of having breakfast in the school canteen. Students play the roles of customers and
waiter/waitress and serve and eat real breakfast. It is very easy to
organize: most products are available at the school cafeteria (milk,
toasts, jam, butter, hot chocolate, fruit, orange juice...) and those
which are not are brought by some students (muffins, bums...). We'll
display two tables together as a counter and they have to order
something to drink and eat. No mistakes in English are allowed. In case
they don't know how to ask for something, they won't get it. In order to
control this I'll start playing the role of a waiter.
Previously, we are going to work in class the following points:
- vocabulary: cutlery (fork, mug, napkin, spoon, etc), food (muffin, a piece of toast, olive oil, etc)
- ordering: 1. Customers: "Can I have the menu, please?", "I'd like....,
please", "Could I have.......?", "I think I'll have...", etc.
2. Waiter/waitress: "Can I help you?", "Are you ready
to order?", "Would you like to see the menu?", "Anything to drink?",
etc.
- expressing opinions: "That sounds good", "It is delicious", "It is tasty", "It is crunchy", etc.
- intonation in questions: 1. rising intonation in yes/no questions: Can I see the menu, please?, can I help you?, etc.
2. falling intonation in open
questions: What do you recommend?, "What would you like to drink?, etc.
I find this activity very motivating as students really enjoy what they
are doing (they are having breakfast!!) and there is not one single
students who doesn't like this. Therefore, they do their best to know
how to order and how to play the waiter/waitress role paying special
attention to how words are pronounced and how questions are uttered with
the proper intonation.
We are doing it on Friday, February, 17th. After that, customers, waiters and waitresses, are invited to evaluate this
activity. Please write a comment on it focusing on the following points:
a. Do you think you could order food in an English cafeteria after having done this activity?
b. Value how you have improved:
1. Vocabulary related to food and cutlery.
2. Vocabulary and structures to order food and drinks.
3. Vocabulary to express your opinion on food.
4. Intonation in questions.
5. Communication strategies to order food
6. Confidence in Speaking in English in general
c. Would you like to do this activity again? If so, say why.
